Nova Notebook: Robinson-Earl Stays Focused on His Craft - Villanova University Official Athletic Site

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                The seventh in a series of Nova Notebook features profiling the Wildcats in the summer of 2020 brings us up to speed on sophomore Jeremiah Robinson-Earl.
 
                When Jeremiah Robinson-Earl announced his intention in April to forgo the remainder of the 2020 National Basketball Association Draft process, head coach Jay Wright made something very clear in his opening remarks on a subsequent Zoom call with local and national media.
 
                "Jeremiah did not want to make a big deal about this," Wright stated. "We're doing this to be responsible because we knew the media and public would want to hear his thoughts."
 
                In the months since that video conference, Robinson-Earl has been more than content to return to the relative anonymity of a quiet gymnasium. The 2019-20 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year has most recently been in his native Kansas City, spending time with family in addition to doing all that he can from a basketball standpoint to prepare for his second year at Villanova.
 
                "I feel like it's been going really well," stated Robinson-Earl in a phone conversation this week. "This is kind of like an off-season in a way because we're not at Villanova but we're still working out on our own. It's been kind of nice to refresh my body while still being in the gym and able to lift and get better at my craft. You're not overdoing it."
 
                For Robinson-Earl, the months leading up to the cancellation of the 2019-20 NCAA season were packed with organized hoops. In addition to the 32.1 minutes per game he averaged while starting all 31 games for the Wildcats in his debut campaign, there was a heavy workload that put him on a straight line from his graduation at Florida's IMG Academy into a key role for Team USA as it earned a gold medal at the U19 World Cup in Greece.
 
                In his own personal basketball laboratory, Robinson-Earl feels he's made strides.
 
                "I think this is a time that can separate those who put in the work," Robinson-Earl said. "It would be easy to say I'm just going to sit in and watch video games, just chill all day. But I would say it's just an inner discipline to know that we want to go in the gym so that we are doing everything we need to do.
 
                "I feel like at Villanova they really teach us well about that. From being on time, to making sure we get our basketball work in to summer classes, it all matters. It's something we're aware of when we're together and is just as important now when we aren't."
 
                Robinson-Earl's frontcourt mate, Saddiq Bey, announced in June that he will not return to Villanova, electing instead to remain in the NBA Draft. Subtracting the 2020 Julius Erving Award winner is significant but the Kansas native believes the Wildcats are well-equipped to cope with life after Bey.
 
                "With the way Coach Wright approaches it, I think we're always prepared for any situation that may come up," stated Robinson-Earl. "Going to the NBA was the best decision for Saddiq. He's in a really good spot and he's ready for that. Obviously, he was a big part of our offense and defense that will be missing.
 
                "But I feel like we've got guys who didn't play last year – Eric Dixon and Caleb Daniels – who are ready to help fill those shoes with our other guys who did play and have gotten better. Even though it's sad to see Saddiq leave, I feel like we're in a really good spot."
 
                Like his teammates, Robinson-Earl has paid attention to events of recent weeks tied to social justice. He's been on the Zoom calls where players and staff are encouraged to share their feelings openly.
 
                "I think it's been going well," he said. "At first we were texting with one another and I don't think that's the best way to have a real conversation. You can't get a sense for tone of voice and if (people) want to elaborate on things. Once we started doing these Zoom calls, it was a lot better. You can see where people are at with the state of the world right now.
 
                "It's been great to keep an open mind, see all sides of everything and not have hard feelings if someone says something you might not like. We want to keep that healthy relationship going. We don't want to be fake with one another. I feel like this has helped us be open about the situation we're in."
 
                Part of what's happening is the pandemic, which of late has included a rise in case numbers in the United States. That has added to the uncertainty of what a 2020-21 basketball season may look like. Robinson-Earl is well aware of the context but doesn't spend a lot of time fixated on what may transpire.
 
                "Obviously that thought is in your mind," Robinson-Earl said. "What's the season going to look like? But you really can't control that. I try to take it day by day, working on the things I need to do to get better."
 
                Those include extending the range on his jump shot. He connected on 21-of-64 from beyond the arc (.328) last season, a more than respectable output for a forward who spent most of his minutes at the defensive end battling the opponents' biggest bodies. It's an obvious next step for a second-year player who averaged 10.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game (fourth highest in the BIG EAST and second highest total ever recorded by a Villanova freshman).
 
                Like many Villanova students, Robinson-Earl is eager to return to campus, which is scheduled for August. Though he's worked to make the best of this pandemic pause, he is excited about what his team is capable of on the basketball court.
 
                "We've all been through a lot together," he said. "That's going to be a big help when we are able to return to the court."
 

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Nova Notebook: Robinson-Earl Stays Focused on His Craft - Villanova University Official Athletic Site
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